During Spring Outing season, magic is all around Camp Sea Gull and Camp Seafarer. Whether they are learning how to "guess your card" or laughing out loud as the magician pulls a coin from their ear, both kids and dads are making memories that will last forever while at camp.
Barry 'Bald Eagle' recalls the magic he experienced with his son, who is now a dad in the program. “The most ‘magic’ common denominator was the individual time spent with each other throughout the weekend. From the drive down, to the meals shared, the activities and the walks taken together, it was the intimacy and range of our conversations that stick out,” said Barry. “We talked more about real concerns, hopes and dreams during those times. The conversations knew no bounds and could be prompted by either of us, but usually came from my son.”
Danny ‘Snapping Turtle’, Barry’s son, now gets to relive the experiences with his kids today.
“It's kind of a legacy thing for me. My dad led me through the program more than 30 years ago,” said Danny. “It's such an awesome feeling to walk my kids in the footsteps that my dad walked me through, especially at camp. Standing on the archery range and rowing a canoe at Seagull and Seafarer, I expect to see my dad beside me, but instead, I am looking at my daughters with pride.”
Through this time of bonding, many of the children learn to conquer their fears and become more confident. Whether it is riding the zip line or standing in front of a crowd, both kids and dads are encouraged to explore outside of their comfort zone and try new things. For Brent 'Barking Dog', this created a special memory that he will hold on to.
“My youngest daughter has always been reserved. So, I was a little surprised when, during breakfast, she said she wanted to do the zip line first thing,” said Brent. “She was so excited, until she got to the top and looked down. Then, she froze. She would inch down slowly, then immediately come back to the top. This lasted a while. So, I finally told her it was now or never. I counted down from five and when I reached zero, she jumped. There was a loud cheer from all of the dads who were supporting her down below and, of course, a really big cheer from me!”
Bonding doesn’t just occur between the dads and kids, but also between the dads themselves. As they spend the weekend together, they lean on each other and learn how to become better fathers and men in their families and communities.
“For me, it was magical to be with a group of guys that trust in each other to parent. We all both teach each other and learn how to become better fathers and men,” said Nimesh ‘Napping Bear.’ “The connection that we form, in addition to the opportunities for the families to connect at camp is unmatched.”